Electric car myth: Home charging stations are expensive and only a few people can install them

Yes, but where should you charge your electric car? One of the most attractive features of an electric car is that you no longer have to rely on petrol or diesel, which can save you a lot of money. The easiest way to ensure this is to set up a charging station at home.

But: You keep hearing that it's really expensive and if you don't own a house, the management or landlord will forbid it anyway.

That's no longer true. First, there are some affordable options for home charging. And recently, the Swiss Parliament decided to introduce the right to charge. Read the details in our myth buster chapter on home charging stations. Let's go.

• Myth 9: Home charging stations are expensive and exclusive
• Home charging is becoming a right for everyone
• How much does a wallbox really cost?
• What options are available for home charging?
• The cheaper, more flexible and much simpler option: a mobile wallbox
• Public charging points as an alternative
• Summary: Anyone can have a wallbox.

Myth 9: Home charging stations are expensive and not everyone can install a charging station at their place of residence.

In short:

• False. The right to charge is being introduced in Switzerland. Anyone who rents a flat or lives in a condominium will be allowed to have their own charging station installed in future.
• Affordable. Modern wallboxes cost between around CHF 300 and CHF 1,500 including installation and meet strict safety standards. Over the course of a 48-month lease, this would cost you CHF 17 - CHF 31 per month.
• A wallbox is not a must. Thanks to more than 12,000 public charging points in Switzerland, you can also easily charge your electric car on the road.
• Safe. Wallboxes are installed by professionals in accordance with strict safety standards.

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Home charging is becoming a right for everyone

A major sticking point for e-mobility is and remains the issue of charging stations.

It's just easiest when you can charge your car at home overnight. You don't have to worry about looking for charging points somewhere on the road, but can simply get into your car in the morning and have a range of 500+ kilometres.

It's also the easiest option in terms of budget. Apart from the fact that public charging stations are often more expensive than charging at home, they can also be a bit cumbersome: you have to download various apps, then you need different cards, and the fees are different everywhere. Let's be honest: it can be a hassle.

That's why it's best to charge at home. However, there was a problem: if you don't own your own home, have a flat or rent your home, you first had to ask your landlord or property manager if you could install a charging station (even at your own expense) on the building or in the underground car park. All too often, tenants and flat owners were denied this option. The argument was that there was a fire hazard – which is based on a falsehood, as electric cars are no more prone to fire than combustion engine cars.

But now everything has changed, and there is cause for celebration, as Switzerland has paved the way: Parliament has decided to introduce a ‘right to charge’.

What does this mean? Even those who rent or live in an apartment building will be allowed to install their own charging station in the future (provided it is technically feasible). Approval from the administration or landlord is no longer necessary. You only need to inform them. This ensures access to home charging for everyone, no matter where or how you live.

The costs must be borne by the user. ‘Oh no, but a wallbox is expensive,’ you might be thinking. ‘Wrong,’ we reply.

How much does a wallbox really cost?

Many people think that a private charging station is a luxury. That's not true. There are many different offers:

• A modern wallbox costs between CHF 300 and CHF 1,500 today.
• With a standard lease, this amounts to an extra CHF 17 to CHF 31 per month.
• Subsidy programmes or tax deductions can further reduce the costs.

What options are available for home charging?

You can set up a proper wallbox. This is connected to the mains by a specialist. Your car will then be fully charged in 6-8 hours. There are various options and prices here. But you should expect to pay upwards of CHF 1,500, depending on how powerful the wallbox needs to be or how complex the mains supply you need to connect to is. For example, it becomes more complicated in a residential area with several charging stations.

But there is an even cheaper, more flexible and much simpler option: a mobile wallbox.

For type 2 plugs – inexpensive, no effort, but less yield

You can either buy one that simply works with a normal socket (type 2). For example, this one from Blaupunkt. However, it takes quite a long time to charge from 0% to 100% – i.e. 24-36 hours. If you don't drive much and only need to charge 20% from time to time (which takes much less time), this is perfectly adequate.

With a CEE plug: also inexpensive, but with much more power.

1. Have an electrician install a CEE socket at home (e.g. in the garage or outside the house). Just wherever it's possible and logical. It should cost you around CHF 400.
2. Either buy a mobile wallbox, such as this one from [Blaupunkt (approx. CHF 349)](https://www.galaxus.ch/de/s4/product/blaupunkt-portables-ladegeraet-typ-2-11-kw-16-a-cee16-rot-elektroauto-ladestation -17211111) or a wallbox for self-installation (which is simply a glorified mobile wallbox) such as this one from [Absina (approx. CHF 200)](https://www.galaxus.ch/de/s4/product/absina-wallbox-typ-2-11-kw-16-a-cee-16-elektroauto-ladestation -46399996).
3. Plug it in and you're ready to go. At around CHF 800, it's significantly cheaper than a ‘normal’ wallbox – where providers often rip you off for wallboxes for private property.

Public charging points as an alternative

If you don't want to or can't install your own wallbox, no problem. There are already over 12,000 public charging points in Switzerland – and the number is rising rapidly. You'll never be stranded – unless you don't pay any attention to the battery indicator. I mean, when was the last time you broke down in a petrol car?

Many charging stations are located at supermarkets, restaurants or car parks. So you can charge your car while you're shopping, having dinner or playing sport, for example. With smart and opportunistic charging, you never have to make a detour to charge your electric car. Or you can use the charging time as an opportunity to do other things.

Find out how easy it is to charge your electric car by reading our blog post on tips and tricks for charging.

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Summary: Anyone can have a wallbox.

The days when charging at home was complicated, expensive or even prohibited are over. With the new ‘right to charge’, Switzerland has taken a big step towards everyday e-mobility. Whether you are a homeowner or a tenant, you can now easily charge your electric car at home without having to wait for approval from the management.

And when it comes to price, home charging is cheaper than you think.
Modern wallboxes are now available from around CHF 200, often for less than CHF 1,000 including professional installation. If you convert that to a 4-year lease, it works out at around CHF 11 to CHF 20 per month – less than a full tank of petrol. In addition, many cantonal subsidy programmes and tax deductions help to further reduce costs.

If you want it even easier, there are mobile wallboxes that you can use with a normal socket or a CEE socket. This gives you flexibility – perfect for anyone who only wants to charge their car occasionally or overnight.

And if you can't or don't want to install your own wallbox, no problem. There are over 12,000 public charging points in Switzerland – at supermarkets, restaurants, hotels and motorways. So charging can be easily integrated into your everyday life: while shopping, at the gym or during a weekend trip.

Let's debunk the other myths! Let's Go.

That was just one of many myths surrounding used electric cars.
There are several other preconceptions that persist – but have little to do with the facts. Discover the other myths now and find out why a used electric car is often the better choice.

To the overview of electric car myths